Sally J Blackmore

Biography

I started writing seriously a few years ago and have enjoyed some success, winning awards, with publication and broadcast. Highlights include being a featured poet at Loose Muse at the Poetry Cafe in Covent garden, having a poem short listed for the Fish Poetry Prize in 2011 and having a poem published by Hotshot, also in 2011. I am the founder of Paragram which holds challenges and competitions to showcase new poetry and short prose writing. Paragram publishes an annual anthology featuring the best of the writing for that year. Our annual book launch event is held in the spring at the Poetry Cafe in Covent garden. I also run Paragram Press, a small independent poetry publishing concern, focussing on new writers wishing to put together a chapbook or volume of their work.

Samples

Soldier (short listed for Fish Poetry Prize 2011) I don’t know the man who stands camouflaged, in green battledress, feet apart, straight back, still hands, unwitting, not dressed to impress. Camouflaged in green battledress, hard-cropped head turned away, unwitting, not dressed to impress, despite glossed boots, badged beret. Hard-cropped head turned away exposing bare vulnerable neck, despite glossed boots, badged beret, braced shoulders – a flawed effect. Exposing bare, vulnerable neck, pulse rippling beneath soft skin, braced shoulders, a flawed effect, veiled gaze, attention within. Pulse rippling beneath soft skin, my son’s rifled brow, drilled with lines, veiled gaze, attention within - then blue eyes lift, smile into mine. My son’s rifled brow, drilled with lines, feet apart, straight back, still hands, then blue eyes lift, smile into mine and I see my boy in the eyes of the man.

All poems are copyright of the originating author. Permission must be obtained before using or performing others' poems.

Blog entries by Sally J Blackmore

Paragram Chapbook Challenge (20/04/2015)

Blog link: https://www.writeoutloud.net/blogs/sallyjblackmore